Foreign leaders who suppress the freedom of speech of American citizens will no longer be allowed entry into the United States, following a new visa restriction policy announced by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday.
In a formal statement, Rubio said the move aims to shield Americans from punitive actions imposed by foreign governments for expressing their views. He condemned practices that have seen US citizens fined, harassed, or prosecuted abroad for exercising their constitutional rights.
“For too long, Americans have been fined, pestered, and even charged by foreign authorities for exercising their free speech rights. Today, I am announcing a new visa restriction policy that will apply to foreign officials and persons who are complicit in censoring Americans,” Rubio said.
He affirmed that free speech is a fundamental American value and that no foreign authority should infringe upon it. The new policy will target officials from any country—including Kenya—who are deemed to have participated in suppressing the voices of American citizens.
“Foreigners who work to undermine the rights of Americans should not enjoy the privilege of travelling to our country. Whether in Latin America, Europe, or elsewhere, the days of passive treatment for those who work to undermine the rights of Americans are over,” he added.
Although the policy did not name Kenya specifically, it applies globally and could impact any official found to be involved in restricting American speech.
Kenya has, in recent years, witnessed increased scrutiny over efforts to regulate social media, suppress digital activism, and control online conversations. These developments may now come under the lens of the new US directive.
Earlier Wednesday, Dagoretti North MP Beatrice Elachi sparked public debate after lamenting the influence of social media, calling for parliamentary intervention.
“Social media has decided to run our country… We must sort out that sector,” Elachi said during a prayer meeting attended by President William Ruto and other leaders—remarks seen by many as a push toward tightening online speech regulations.
Kenyan leaders involved in such efforts could now face potential travel bans under the new US policy.
